Scottish Executive

Best Value

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a duty of Best Value will be extended across the public sector.

Mr Andy Kerr: The duty of Best Value has been extended across the public sector - placing a duty on all Accountable Officers to seek best value from resources. This is being implemented using powers under the Public Finance and Accountability Act 2000.

Education

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many exclusions there have been from (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive’s annual survey regarding the number of primary and secondary pupils excluded from local authority schools in Scotland commenced in 1998. The figures for the three years documented are as follows:

  


Year 
  

Primary Pupils 
  

Secondary Pupils 
  

Total 
  



1998-99 
  

4,402 
  

29,612 
  

34,014 
  



1998-99
(Revised figure)* 
  
 
 

37,200 
  



1999-2000 
  

4,652 
  

32,954 
  

37,606 
  



2000-01 
  

4,507 
  

33,145 
  

37,652 
  



  *In 1999 the overall figure for exclusions for 1998-99 was revised due to resubmission of data from local authorities, in light of additional guidance and discussions. The revised figure was not broken down between primary, secondary and special education pupils.

Fisheries

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-4927 by Ross Finnie on 21 March 2002, how the £18 million made available to fish processors has been, or will be, distributed.

Ross Finnie: The £18 million available to fish processors, is distributed through the FIFG Lowland Scotland Processing and Marketing Scheme, under a six-year programme ending in 2006. Processors can apply at any time, and awards are made on a quarterly basis through a competitive selection procedure.

  Applications receive priority if they add value in Scotland to primary produce, involve products designed for the export market, result in an increase or safeguarding of employment or demonstrate increased returns to the catching/fish farming sector.

  To date 39 applications have been awarded FIFG grant of £3.8 million plus SEERAD support grant of £1.3 million. These awards are expected to generate investment of more than £26 million and lead to the creation of 900 jobs.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to gauge the economic and conservation impact of all recent technical and conservation measures implemented by the catching sector of the fishing industry and what this impact has been.

Ross Finnie: The European Commission are committed to undertake a review of the measures implemented under the cod recovery programme by the autumn. The review will take account of the experience gathered during 2002, as well as new scientific information and advice and other relevant data. They also intend to assess the economic and social impact of the revised measures on the relevant fleets.

Higher Education

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to encourage research collaboration between Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews universities and other newer universities.

Ms Wendy Alexander: This is a matter for the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council. However, my Guidance Letter to the council stated that delivery of the Executive’s objectives for higher education will require collaboration with a wide range of other bodies, both on the part of the council and individual institutions. Key partners include schools and colleges, the Scottish Further Education Funding Council, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the business community and recently created bodies, such as learndirect scotland. I look to the council to provide leadership on this and to promote a culture of partnership and co-operation across the sector and beyond, in particular to meet the challenges of creating a lifelong learning culture.

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much lottery funding has been given to (a) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (b) the Scottish Land Fund in respect of the community right to buy and crofting community right to buy elements of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill; whether such contributions were allocated from Scotland’s share of lottery funds, and whether such contributions are within the original objectives for the allocation of lottery funding.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Highlands and Islands Enterprise has received no lottery funding in respect of the Community Right to Buy and Crofting Community Right to Buy elements of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.

  The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill does not make any financial provision for land purchase by community bodies under either the Community Right to Buy or the Crofting Community Right to Buy Parts. The bill is designed to remove land-based barriers which historically have hampered development.

  The Scottish Land Fund was launched by the New Opportunities Fund in February 2001 and it is administered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise, on behalf of the New Opportunities Fund.

  The £10 million fund is designed to support sustainable rural development in Scotland by helping communities to buy, manage and develop local land and related assets. The Scottish Land Fund will complement the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill, but it is not an integral part of it. Funding from the Scottish Land Fund may be one source of support for communities seeking to exercise their rights under the bill.

  The £10 million allocated to the Scottish Land Fund amounts to 75% of Scotland's £14 million (11.5%) share of the New Opportunities Fund's £125 million Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities programme.

  The New opportunities Fund was created under the National Lottery Act of 1998 to fund Health, Education and Environment projects and the creation of the Scottish Land Fund is consistent with its remit.

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding is planned to be allocated for the (a) community right to buy and (b) crofting community right to buy elements of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Ross Finnie: As indicated in paragraphs 324 to 334 of the Scottish Executive’s Financial Memorandum, which accompanied the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill on introduction to Parliament on 27 November 2001, various costs to the Executive are envisaged in relation to the community and crofting community right to buy provisions of the bill. Further estimated costs to other parties are detailed in paragraphs 337 to 350 of the Financial Memorandum.

  The level of funding required to assist community and crofting community bodies in purchasing land under the provisions of the bill will depend on the level of uptake. There will be no financial assistance provided by the Executive towards the cost of purchasing the land itself. It will be for community bodies themselves to look for sources of funding. The Highlands and Islands and Scottish Enterprise Community Land Units and the Scottish Land Fund are one possible route.

  Copies of the bill and its accompanying documents are available from the Scottish Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 17790).

Legal Aid

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of civil legal aid cases (a) sought and (b) were refused a sanction for (i) junior and (ii) senior counsel in each of the past three years, broken down by subject matter (such as matrimonial, reparation or contract).

Mr Jim Wallace: This is a matter for the Scottish Legal Aid Board. The information requested is not held centrally.

Ministerial Parliamentary Aides

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific duties have been carried out by each ministerial parliamentary aide since each was appointed.

Ms Patricia Ferguson: Ministerial parliamentary aides have been carrying out a range of duties to assist Cabinet Ministers in the discharge of their parliamentary duties.

National Parks

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in its consideration of responses to the consultation on the draft designation order for the Loch Lomond the Trossachs National Park.

Allan Wilson: We have completed our consideration of responses to the consultation on the draft Designation Order for the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. The draft Designation Order and the draft Elections Order were laid before Parliament on 26 February. The Rural Development Committee formally considered the draft Orders on 26 March when they agreed the motions to approve the Orders.

National Parks

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Forestry Commission is undertaking any measures to retain the integrity, brand identity and tourism potential of the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park given the creation of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

Allan Wilson: The Forestry Commission is indeed taking such measures. It has agreed with the Interim National Park Authority that the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park will retain its own unique identity within the National Park. The commission is also taking this opportunity to review the future branding and promotion of the Forest Park and it is considering introducing an updated logo. Any new logo will, however, retain the main traditional features, including Ben Lomond, forests, lochs and deer. Furthermore, the commission is enhancing the tourism potential of the Forest Park by creating new recreational facilities and improving existing ones. This work is being financed in part by a substantial EU grant.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many notices regarding security technology change quotations have been provided to the Scottish ministers, and on what dates, as required under paragraph 33.3.1 of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  None.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what system of recording gifts and hospitality has been put in place to aid in monitoring compliance with section 44 of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock on corrupt gifts and payments.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  No special system has been put in place. The standard SPS systems operate.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any notification of change of ownership as required to be notified under section 43 of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock has been given to the Scottish Ministers such that it has been deemed to be a change of control of Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited as defined at Paragraph 43.3.2.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  In accordance with the requirements of the contract between the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited (KPSL), KPSL advised SPS of the proposed purchase by Group4 Falck of The Wackenhut Corporation.

  SPS is currently in discussion with KPSL to assess the implications, if any, if Group4 Falck proceed with their proposal to purchase The Wackenhut Corporation.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any notification of change of ownership as required to be notified under section 43 of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock has been given to the Scottish Ministers and, if so, to what effect.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  In accordance with the requirements of the contract between the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited (KPSL), KPSL advised SPS of the proposed purchase by Group4 Falck of The Wackenhut Corporation.

  SPS is currently in discussion with KPSL to assess the implications, if any, if Group4 Falck proceed with their proposal to purchase The Wackenhut Corporation.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19287 by Mr Jim Wallace on 5 November 2001, what the expected equity value of the contract is expected to be if notice of termination under section 40 and schedule H of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock were given by the Scottish ministers four years and six months after the contractual opening date.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  As stated in Clause 40 of the contract between SPS and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited, published on the SPS website on 8 March 2002, it would not be open to the authority to terminate the contract at that time.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions the Scottish Ministers have provided Scottish Prison Service staff to work at HM Prison Kilmarnock under paragraph 34.1.1 of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock, excluding on matters relating to the supervision of the contract.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  None.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what daily charge rate is, or would be, levied under paragraph 34.1.1 of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock for the use by Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited of Scottish Prison Service staff in the various categories, and with the various qualifications, which have been or may be provided.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  No staff are provided under Clause 34.1.1. The question in respect of a daily rate is not therefore relevant.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoner places in HM Prison Kilmarnock were (a) being paid for and (b) occupied on (i) 30 June 2000, (ii) 31 December 2000, (iii) 30 June 2001, (iv) 31 December 2001 and (v) 28 February 2002 or on the nearest dates for which the information can reasonably be provided.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The number of prisoner places was as follows:

   Paid for   Occupied 30 June 2000   500   497 31 December 2000   533   533 30 June 2001   548   548 31 December 2001   510   510 28 February 2002   548   561

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24120 by Mr Jim Wallace on 27 March 2002, whether it will specify all the omissions from the published version of the contract on HM Prison Kilmarnock in each case showing in which part of the contract the omissions were made, what information has been omitted and on what grounds it was omitted.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The categories omitted were detailed in the response to question S1W-24120. These were omitted on the grounds of security, commercial in confidence and unnecessary detail in the case of lengthy lists of fixtures, fittings, etc.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited has at any time transferred personal data to any country outwith the EU in line with the data protection provisions in section 57 of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock and, if so, whether it will give details.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  This is a matter for Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how Scottish ministers ensure that Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited (KPSL) and all servants, agents and sub-contractors of KPSL (a) do not unlawfully discriminate within Scotland, (b) apply similar standards of operation elsewhere and (c) have codes of practice relating to the prevention of discrimination in line with section 56 of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  By making it an enforceable condition of the contract.

Single European Currency

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has established any pilot projects to assist in the preparation for the possible introduction of the euro.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Details of the UK Government's euro preparations work was set out in the Fifth Report on Euro Preparations , published in November 2001. The Scottish Executive has not established any pilot projects as part of that work. The government will continue to provide regular updates in future progress reports. Membership of the single european currency is a reserved issue.

Water Industry

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to undertake a consultation process in regard to the possibility of opening up Scottish Water to competition, detailing the reasons behind its position on the matter.

Ross Finnie: The possibility of increased competition in the water industry has been the subject of two recent public consultations:

  Managing Change in the Water Industry – A Consultation Paper was published on 15 June 2000 and included a discussion of the scope for competition to develop in the water industry in Scotland.

  The Water Services Bill – The Executive’s Proposals was published on 23 March 2001, and included proposals for a legislative framework that would safeguard public health, environment protection and social objectives in a competitive environment.

  I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24221, which explained that further consideration of the issues surrounding a legislative framework needed to be undertaken. This is in hand at present. We shall make an announcement when it has been completed.

Water Industry

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether exemption from competition for domestic users of water complies with European Union competition laws and whether any such exemption is in the best interest of consumers.

Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24221, which explained that further consideration is needed of the issues surrounding a legislative framework for the water industry that will safeguard public health, environment protection and social objectives in a competitive environment. This work is in hand at present. In taking it forward, the Executive will be seeking an approach that serves the interests of customers and complies with the provisions of EU law in this area.

  


Following are statistics on parliamentary questions 
  and answers for the period from 04/02/2002 to 01/03/2002







Scottish Executive 
  

Presiding Officer 
  

Total 
  



Total questions asked 
  

962 
  

11 
  

973 
  



Total questions answered 
  

876 
  

10 
  

886 
  



  


Total non-recess questions answered (breakdown) 
  



Answered within: 
  

Scottish Executive 
  

Presiding Officer 
  



0-14 days 
  

657 
  

9 
  



2-4 weeks 
  

155 
  

1 
  



4-6 weeks 
  

21 
  

0 
  



6-8 weeks 
  

7 
  

0 
  



8 weeks and over 
  

15 
  

0 
  



Total answered 
  

855 
  

10 
  



  


Total recess questions answered (breakdown) 
  



Answered within: 
  

Scottish Executive 
  

Presiding Officer 
  



0-28 days 
  

5 
  

0 
  



4-6 weeks 
  

1 
  

0 
  



6-8 weeks 
  

5 
  

0 
  



8 weeks and over 
  

10 
  

0 
  



Total answered 
  

21 
  

0